Best Two Wheeler Insurance Add Ons Worth Buying in India

Key Takeaways

• The best two wheeler insurance add-ons cannot be purchased as standalone policies. You must add them to an existing Comprehensive or Own Damage insurance policy, based on your requirements. The most popular add-ons worth buying are Zero Depreciation, Engine Protect, Roadside Assistance, Return to Invoice, and Consumable covers. 
• Insurers calculate the add-on premiums as a percentage of your two-wheeler’s IDV. Depending on the add-on you choose, the premium can start as low as ₹100. 
• A Zero Depreciation cover increases your regular insurance premium by roughly 10-20%. But this small increase comes with a huge advantage, as you get 100% of the claim amount for replacement of damaged plastic and metal parts without factoring in wear and tear. 
• A Consumable cover works best when combined with Zero Depreciation to ensure you pay very nominal or zero expenses out of pocket at the time of claim settlement. 

Top Two Wheeler Insurance Add Ons Compared 

Two-wheeler insurance add-ons provide extra protection against financial risks that your regular comprehensive insurance policy may not cover. The best two-wheeler insurance add-ons generally include Zero Depreciation, Engine Protection, Roadside Assistance, Consumables Cover, and Return to Invoice (RTI). Most insurance providers offer these popular add-ons at an additional ₹100 to ₹300 annually for standard commuter bikes, translating to barely a 10% to 15% increase in your base premium. 

Compare the top two-wheeler insurance add-ons, estimated annual cost, and key benefits before choosing the right one. 

Two-wheeler Insurance Add-On	Estimated Annual Cost	Primary Coverage Benefit	Best Suited For
Zero Depreciation	₹200–₹500	Eliminates depreciation deductions on plastic, rubber, and metal replacement parts	Vehicles under 5 years old
Engine Protection	₹150–₹350	Covers mechanical or electrical repairs caused by water ingress or hydrostatic lock	Flood-prone urban areas and monsoons
Roadside Assistance (RSA)	₹100–₹250	Provides emergency towing, flat tyre support, battery jump-starts, and fuel delivery	Daily commuters and highway riders
Consumables Cover	₹100–₹300	Pays for non-reusable items like engine oil, nuts, bolts, screws, and brake oil	Regular city riding and annual servicing
Return to Invoice (RTI)	₹250–₹600	Pays the full original invoice price (including registration taxes) in case of total loss or theft	Brand-new bikes in their 1st–3rd year

Best Two Wheeler Insurance Add Ons Worth Buying

When purchasing a Comprehensive or Own Damage insurance policy for your new bike, consider two-wheeler insurance add-ons, such as Zero Depreciation, Engine Protect, RSA, Consumables, and RTI covers for maximum protection. 

Zero Depreciation Cover 

A Zero Depreciation add-on cover ensures you get the maximum claim amount in the event of loss or damage to your vehicle without any deductions or depreciation on parts, like plastic, fibre, rubber, etc. The insurer pays the entire cost of replacement or repair. This helps you save on huge out-of-pocket expenses, but you still need to pay a small compulsory deductible during the claim settlement. 

• Real-World Impact: Without a Zero Depreciation cover, insurers deduct 50% for rubber, nylon and plastic parts, and 30% for fibre glass parts. But with this two-wheeler insurance add-on cover, replacing a broken plastic apron worth ₹3,000 gets you the full claim amount instead of ₹1,500 under a standard policy. 
• Limitations: Most insurers restrict a Zero Depreciation add-on cover to two-wheelers under 5 years of age.

Engine Protect Cover 

An Engine Protect add-on protects your two-wheeler’s engine and gearbox parts against damage caused by oil leakage or water ingress. It pays for repairing damage from hydrostatic lock and replacing the pistons, connecting rods, and crankshaft assemblies.

• Affordable Pricing: Typically costs around ₹150 to ₹350 on top of your regular premium, depending on your two-wheeler’s engine cubic capacity (cc).
• Limitations: Insurers do not cover added damage caused by your negligence or delayed intimation. 

Roadside Assistance (RSA) Cover

A Roadside Assistance two-wheeler insurance add-on cover provides 24X7 support if your vehicle breaks down unexpectedly in the middle of the road. It offers towing services to the nearest network garage, flat tyre and minor roadside repairs, battery jump-start, lost or spare key assistance, and emergency fuel delivery, ensuring complete peace of mind. 

• Budget-Friendly: Costs around ₹100 to ₹250 extra annually, depending on the insurer, vehicle age, and engine capacity, making it one of the most affordable two-wheeler insurance add-ons. 
• Limitations: Most insurers restrict free towing services to 30-50 km from the breakdown site and the maximum number of assistance calls to 2-4 times a year. Additionally, the RSA cover excludes repair and replacement costs of the two-wheeler’s mechanical parts. 

Consumables Cover 

A Consumable cover in two-wheeler insurance pays for the replacement of consumable items, such as engine oil, gear oil, coolant, brake fluid, washers, nuts, bolts, and grease, following an accident. 

• Low Premium: Depending on the insurer, two-wheeler model, usage, and engine cc, the annual Consumable add-on premium costs roughly ₹100 to ₹300, excluding GST. 
• Limitations: The add-on is only applicable to accidental repairs, not routine maintenance services. 

Return to Invoice (RTI) Cover 

A Return to Invoice cover in two-wheeler insurance ensures you get the full invoice amount (original purchase price), including registration charges and road taxes, if your vehicle is stolen or damaged beyond repair. 

• Full Value Recovery: An RTI cover bridges the gap between your two-wheeler’s depreciated IDV and the original price. For instance, if you purchased a bike worth ₹1.2 lakh, whose IDV has depreciated to ₹90,000, you would still get the full ₹1.2 lakh with the RTI two-wheeler insurance add-on if it gets stolen or suffers a total loss. 
• Limitations: Insurers typically offer this add-on on vehicles aged under 3 years. 

How to Choose the Right Two Wheeler Insurance Add Ons 

Choosing the appropriate bike insurance add-on comes down to the vehicle’s age, daily travel routes, and location. For brand new bikes up to 3 years of age, a combination of Zero Depreciation, Consumables Cover, and Return to Invoice works best to ensure full protection of the purchase value. In the case of daily commutes during the monsoon, Engine Protection paired with Zero Depreciation protects against waterlogged streets. For long-distance riders or solo travellers, the Roadside Assistance cover makes perfect sense for 24x7 emergency towing support across highway networks. 

FAQs

Are two-wheeler insurance add-ons mandatory by law in India?

No, two-wheeler insurance add-ons are optional covers that you can purchase with a Comprehensive or Own Damage insurance policy by paying an extra premium. The Motor Vehicles Act only mandates a Third-party liability insurance policy for all two-wheelers. 

Does adding Zero Depreciation affect my No Claim Bonus (NCB)? 

No, just adding a Zero Depreciation add-on does not affect your No Claim Bonus or reduce the existing discount. But filing a claim under this cover will reset your NCB discount to zero at the time of policy renewal unless you have a separate NCB Protector add-on.

Can I buy add-ons for a 7-year-old bike? 

You can buy two-wheeler insurance add-ons for a 7-year-old vehicle, but your options will be limited to Roadside Assistance and Consumables covers. Zero Depreciation and RTI covers are generally offered on vehicles aged up to 3-5 years.

How much do add-ons increase total insurance premiums?  

Two-wheeler insurance add-ons typically increase the total premium cost by 10-15%, depending on the type of coverage and the specific risk involved. 

Is Personal Accident Cover an optional add-on? 

As per the IRDAI guidelines, a Personal Accident cover is not optional but compulsory for all two-wheeler owners. It covers up to ₹15 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability of the rider.